Secret Service escorts Trump from briefing room af

President Donald Trump was rushed out of the White House briefing room Monday evening and later said the Secret Service had shot someone nearby.

After he returned to continue his coronavirus response briefing, Trump said he had been taken to the Oval Office by the Secret Service and told reporters that law enforcement had shot someone outside the White House.

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"There was a shooting, law enforcement shot someone, seems to be someone, and the suspect is on the way to the hospital," Trump said as the briefing restarted following the sudden, but brief, lockdown.

President Donald Trump is escorted a member of the secret service from the Brady Briefing Room of the White House, Aug. 10, 2020.

President Donald Trump is escorted a member of the secret service from the Brady Briefing Room of the White House, Aug. 10, 2020.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

A senior official told ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl the shooting happened on 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue. The suspect opened fired on a non-White House employee and a Uniformed Secret Service officer returned fire, according to the official.

MORE: At fortified White House, Trump under verbal assault from military's top ranksLaw enforcement officials gather following a shooting that took place at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, Aug. 10, 2020.

Law enforcement officials gather following a shooting that took place at 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue near the White House, Aug. 10, 2020.

Patrick Semansky/AP

The Secret Service later confirmed that location in a tweet.

According to another source familiar with the matter, the Secret Service called for an ambulance at 5:55 p.m. ET and one came shortly after. The suspect, an adult male, was transported to a hospital in critical condition with one gunshot wound to the upper body, the source said.

A member of the secret service whispers to President Donald Trump before escorting him from briefing at the White House, Aug. 10, 2020.

A member of the secret service whispers to President Donald Trump before escorting him from briefing at the White House, Aug. 10, 2020.

Kevin Lamarque/Reuters

In addition to the Secret Service, the Metropolitan Police Department was assisting with the investigation.

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Trump said "from what I understand" the suspect was armed. He said the suspect was shot outside the White House grounds but close to the fence.

Members of the US Secret Service take up position outside the Brady Briefing Room as the White House is locked down, Aug. 10, 2020.

Members of the US Secret Service take up position outside the Brady Briefing Room as the White House is locked down, Aug. 10, 2020.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

"It's unfortunate that this is the world but the world has always been a dangerous place. It's not something that's unique," he added.

The president was taken out of the briefing room and into the Oval Office for about nine minutes.

"We don't know" if the suspect mentioned a name, he said. "It might not have had anything to do with me."

Trump said he "didn't even think about not coming back" to brief reporters.

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Asked what the Secret Service agent told him when he was approached mid-sentence, Trump said, "Just told me when he came up, you pretty much saw it like I did. He said, 'Sir, could you please come with me?' So, you were surprised. I was surprised, also. I think it's probably it's pretty unusual but very, very professional people, they all do a fantastic job, as you know."

Responding to a question from reporters, Trump said he does not think the suspect "breached anything."

"It was on the outside grounds, so I don't believe anything was breached. I asked that question. They were relatively far away," Trump said.

ABC News' Luke Barr contributed to this report.

Source : abcnews.go.com